Travel to Montreal with travel insurance from Essential Travel

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Information on Montreal with single trip travel insurance from Essential Travel

Montréal is Canadas most populous city and yet retains a charming and laid-back atmosphere. An economic and cultural powerhouse, Montréal is as cosmopolitan as they come, extremely friendly and easy to navigate.

Getting There

Montréals Dorval Airport is one of Canada’s busiest, with many transatlantic and US flights; connections with the city are frequent and reliable. Train and bus stations are located in the centre of Montréal with regular services to and from US and provincial cities. Montréal has a superb road network in and around the city, with highways 20 and 40 linking it to Quebec City, highway 401 to Toronto, and highway 417 to Ottawa.

Key Attractions

The most striking landmark is the looming 232-metre Mount Royal, known as ‘The Mountain, which is surrounded by a number of major cultural institutions, such as: a performing arts centre that serves as home of the Montreal Symphony Orchestral; the Musée des Beaux Arts; and the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. History buffs should head for place Jacques Cartier in Vieux Montréal (Old Montreal) for a look at life in the past.

The main downtown heart of Montréal is the area south of Mont Royal, with rue Sainte Catherine, the main shopping street, running east to west through its centre. To the east of the mountain is the chic district of Plateau Mont Royal, with its fabulous 19th century architecture and buzzing nightlife, while rue Saint Denis and the boulevard St Laurent are loaded with history and fine eateries.

Out and About

Just to the east of the city is the Parc Olympique, featuring the Stade Olympique, Biodome, Montréal Tower and Botanical Garden. The Laurentian Mountains are strewn with pristine lakes, quaint villages and ski resorts, of which Saint Sauveur des Monts and Mont Tremblant are unmissable. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Quebec City is a little over two hours from Montréal and boasts an intriguing old town and a wealth of other attractions.

Leisure Options

The top dining and entertainment spots in town are along boulevard St Laurent, rue St Denis, Carrée St Louis (for singletons), and Little Italy. For outdoor recreation activities, the Rouge River is northwest of the city and has world-class white-water rafting, mountain biking and hiking trails; while family fun can be had at Parc des Îles (on the St Lawrence river), with its amusement park, Casino de Montréal, artificial beach and parks.

Safety

Travellers should remain vigilant in downtown Montréal as pickpockets do operate in tourist areas. Motorists should refrain from parking their vehicles on city streets at night and take regular breaks on long journeys. Water sports and other outdoor pursuits also place you at greater risk of having an accident.

Weather in Montreal

Ther warmest months are July and August. In the winter months, December - February, it is very cold with heavy snowfalls. Autumn is a beautiful season with crisp air and brilliant foliage.

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